Description
Book SynopsisSpanning over 1,300 years, this popular history of Rome combines an overview of political events with a balanced analysis of social and economic change, and of religious and cultural life. This new edition includes increased coverage of the late republic, and more attention is devoted to the impact of material culture.
Trade Review“The fourth edition of this highly successful text retains the virtues of its predecessors while judiciously revising, expanding, and updating the presentation of material. In its new form
A History of Rome will continue to provide excellent support for courses in Roman history, culture, and society.”
Richard Tarrant, Harvard University “The new edition of this comprehensive and widely-used history of ancient Rome improves an already valuable and authoritative textbook, augmenting the range of maps and illustrations, expanding the historical horizons with additional literary material and discussion of inscriptional evidence, and updating the notes on further reading. The combination of visual material and detailed narrative offers a vivid and multidimensional perspective on the most powerful and enduringly influential of ancient empires.”
Alan Bowman, University of Oxford
Praise for the third edition:
"Edition 3 maintains a good balance betweena general survey and a deeper analysis of Roman history, combining a traditional biographical and factual approach with thematic discussions of socio-political developments and institutions. I highly recommend all the new materials for both personal research and classroom use."
Bryn Mawr Classical Review
"A History of Rome is a solid textbook. With a strong and topical vision of the city's political, military and cultural history, the empire is brought firmly into the picture."
Antiquity
Table of ContentsList of Plates ix
List of Figures and Maps xii
List of Chronologies, Genealogies, and Boxes xiv
Preface to the Fourth Edition xvi
Preface to the Third Edition xvii
Preface to the Second Edition xviii
Preface to the First Edition xix
List of Abbreviations xxi
Introduction xxii
The Sources for Roman History xxii
Rome and the Mediterranean xxv
The Origins of the “Roman Miracle” xxvii
Part I: From the Origins to the Empire 1
1 Italy before Rome 3
1.1 The Peoples of Prehistoric Italy 5
1.2 The Cultures of Prehistoric Italy 7
1.3 The East’s Influence on the West 14
2 The Formation of Rome: From Romulus to the Tarquins 19
2.1 Latin and Sabine Kings 21
2.2 Etruscan Rome 26
2.3 The Religion of Archaic Rome 33
3 The Young Republic: The Fifth and Fourth Centuries BCE 41
3.1 The Birth of the Republic and the Struggle of the Orders 43
3.2 The Decemvirs and their Task 46
3.3 In Search of Equilibrium: 449–312 bce 49
3.4 The Republic’s Institutions at the End of the Fourth Century 56
vi Contents
4 The Growth of the Republic: War and Conquest in the Third Century BCE 61
4.1 Economy, Society, Army 63
4.2 The Conquest of Central and Southern Italy 66
4.3 The Hellenization of Art and Religion 68
4.4 The Punic Wars 73
4.5 Gladiatorial Combat: Rise and Early Development 82
5 Consequences of Conquest: The Second Century BCE 89
5.1 What Was Roman Imperialism? 91
5.2 Conquests from 200 to 148 bce: Defensive Imperialism 93
5.3 Conquests from 148 to 133 bce: Conscious Imperialism 95
5.4 War and Conquest: 133–96 bce 100
5.5 Roman Triumphs: Spectacles of Military Victory 103
5.6 The Economic, Social, and Political Consequences of the Conquests 107
5.7 Cultural Consequences 115
6 The Late Republic: The First Century BCE 121
6.1 Personal Ambitions and the Civil Wars 123
6.2 Toward a New Order 159
6.3 Social and Cultural Transformations 169
Part II: Rome, Master of the World 185
7 The Roman World in 31–28 BCE 187
7.1 Actium and its Aftermath 189
7.2 Rome and Italy 194
7.3 The Provinces 197
7.4 Boundaries and Frontiers 203
8 Augustus: The Birth of the Imperial Regime: 29 BCE–14 CE 207
8.1 The Formation of the Principate 209
8.2 The Emperor and his Entourage 218
8.3 A Hierarchy of Offices 224
8.4 The Army and its Conquests 230
8.5 The Administration of the Empire 237
8.6 Augustus: Showman and Gamesmaster of Rome 243
8.7 Religious Policy 249
8.8 The Succession 254
9 The Julio-Claudians: The System Under Stress: 14–68 CE 257
9.1 Four Personalities: Tiberius, Gaius (Caligula), Claudius, Nero 259
9.2 The Institutions and Innovations of the Julio-Claudians 271
9.3 Development of the Administration 285
10 The Flavians: Consolidating the Imperial Order: 68–96 CE 289
10.1 Events and Contenders 291
10.2 Interpretations 293
10.3 The Flavian Dynasty 294
10.4 Domitian and Tyranny: 81–96 ce 305
10.5 A Developing Municipal Life and a Changing Society 311
10.6 Social Changes 315
11 The Antonine Empire: 96–192 CE 319
11.1 Italo-Provincial Emperors 321
11.2 Italy in Decline, the Provinces Expanding 350
11.3 Romanization 364
11.4 A Mediterranean Economy 366
11.5 The Army 373
11.6 Spectacles and the Roman Empire 382
11.7 Religious Life 394
12 The African and Syrian Emperors: 193–235 CE 405
12.1 The Crisis of 193–197 ce 407
12.2 Septimius Severus and his Sons 408
12.3 Macrinus, Elagabalus, Severus Alexander 426
12.4 Provincial Upsurge and the Orientalization of the Empire? 431
Part III: Another Roman World: Third to Fifth Century CE 437
Introduction to Part III: The Nature of the Times 438
13 Equilibrium: 235 CE 439
13.1 A Fragile Balance 441
13.2 Rome and Italy 443
13.3 The Western Provinces 446
13.4 The Eastern Provinces 449
13.5 Beyond the Limes 452
13.6 Balance and Instability 454
14 A Disintegrating Order: 235–284 CE 457
14.1 Sinking into Crisis: 235–260 ce 459
14.2 The Nature and Limits of the Crisis 462
14.3 The Reaction of the Imperial Government: 260–284 ce 467
15 A Different Order: 284–361 CE 471
15.1 Diocletian and the Tetrarchy: 284–305 ce 473
15.2 Constantine: 306–337 ce 477
15.3 Constantine’s Sons: 337–361 ce 481
15.4 Three Emperors and their Achievements 484
16 Different Institutions: Reorganization 485
16.1 Central Government 487
16.2 The Army 491
16.3 Territorial Authorities 496
16.4 Cities and Municipal Life 498
16.5 An Absolute Monarchy 502
17 A Different Socio-Economic World: Recovery and State Control 503
17.1 The Economic Recovery 505
17.2 Society and the State 509
17.3 Towns and Villas 517
17.4 Expansion and Lifestyles 521
18 Between Paganism and Christianity 523
18.1 The Fourth-Century ce Renaissance 525
18.2 Paganism on the Defensive 526
18.3 Judaism between the Empire and the Church 533
18.4 Christianity Takes the Offensive 535
18.5 Boom and Decline 543
19 The End of the Roman World? 545
19.1 Julian: 361–363 ce 547
19.2 A New Crisis: 364–395 ce 550
19.3 The End of Rome? 554
Chronological Table 559
Glossary 578
Guide to Greek and Roman Writers 584
Guide to Further Reading 595
Index 617
